Construction of New Iloilo Flyover Starts

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region VI here announced that work on the flyover project located at Ungka II in Pavia, Iloilo, conceived to promote the easy flow of vehicular traffic along one of the province’s major highways, started January 13.

The project is an initiative of the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) as part of an area-wide road network development program that will involve the construction of circumferential and circuit roads designed to support the economic growth needs of the metropolis.

The road network is also tied to the proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge project.

In anticipation of the traffic congestion that will be brought about by construction activities, DPWH and MIGEDC have designated alternative routes from the initial construction site.

At the start of the work, four of the six lanes at the President Corazon Aquino Avenue and Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue were set to be closed, leaving only one lane on each side open to traffic, said DPWH-6 Assistant Regional Director Jose Al V. Fruto.

The municipal government of Pavia has designated at least two main passages away from the construction area, namely the Iloilo-Sta. Barbara Road for vehicles going to the direction of Jaro district this city and vice versa, and the Oton-San Jose-Sta. Barbara Road left turn to Iloilo City-ALEOSAN Road for those going to Mandurriao or Molo districts and vice versa.

Additional traffic enforcers will be requested to be deployed in the area. The city government of Iloilo through the Public Safety and Transport Management Office headed by Jeck Conlu will help manage at their end the expected traffic congestion.

Initial work will involve boring activities for the pier structures at the approach section of the flyover that will require enclosing an area covering four lanes over a distance of 50 meters.

The Ungka II flyover has a length of 453. 70 meters and will cost P480 million to build. It is one of four similar projects programmed in Iloilo, with three others to be put up at Aganan, Pavia which will be 436.90 meters long and costing P560 million, and in Hibao-an, also in Pavia and in Buhang, Jaro.

DPWH and MIGEDC appealed for understanding from the public for any inconvenience that will be caused by project construction activities which will eventually result in easing up growing traffic.

“We’re getting ahead of progress because of these projects,” Fruto said. (JSC/PIA6)